Chain



Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE..

CARL AUGENSTEIN, OF CRANSTON, AND ROBERT VOGEL, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNORS TO AUTOMATIC GOLD' CHAIN COMPANY, FIRM COMPOSED OF y EDWIN F. M. SPEIDEL ANI) ALBERT R. SPEIDEL, BOTH EDGEWOOD, RHODE VIS- LAND.

CHAIN.

Application led'December 9, 1926. Serial No. 153,527.`

This invention relates to an improved construction of chain or bracelet formed of a plurality of extendible links; and the ob]e ct of this invention is to construct such a chain i or bracelet having an outer guide link formed of sheet stock folded into the desired shape and an inner slide link provided with a hookshaped portioniby which it. may be readily connected to and disconnectedfrom the next adjacent link of the bracelet.

A still further object of the invention to so fold the stockof the guide link so as to provide a rear wall with a longitudinal tially flush with the face thereof to complete its bearing wall, the inturned abutment ,iin-

Oers on the guide link extending between the scribed, and particularly pointed out in theV walls of theband to prevent the hook from being opened except when in extended position. I y

With these and other objects in view. the invention consists ofjcertain novel features of construction, as will bemorev fully deappended claims. e l

In the accon'ipanying drawings:

Figure l is a perspective vieivshowing a series of links connected together.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the under side of the guidelink with the slide link removed therefrom and the abutment fingers in extended position before being folded into operativeposition.

` Figure 3 is a view of the underside of this link. 1

Figure 4. is a cross sectionon line of Figure 3 showing the inturnedy guide lips on this` guide link. A Figure 5 isa perspective view of theshde link showing .its as being providedwith an engaging hook atone end. p f i Figure 6 is a View of the underside of e thisslidelink.V l Y Figure? is a central sectional view of this. slide link. y f

Figure 8 is a sectional view showing the slide links in partially extended position in the guide links'. i Figure 9 is a sectional edge Aview showing the links in the vsame position as rshewn in Figure 8. `y

Figure l() isa section on line 10e-l0 of Figure 8. Y i Figure 1l yshows the hook of the slide link in position with the tongue depressed to engage the cross barr on the` next adjacent guide link.` n ,"i It is found of advantage inthe construd tion of bracelets of ythis character, to provide a guide link of'sheet stock, the 'blank vof which is folded to provide a broad, front face,ina'rrow edge Walls and havinginwardvly-extending rear wall portions, the edges of which are turned in towards the inner surface ofthe front kwall to provide a longitudinal guiding slotand to prov/idea bandshaped slide member of elongatedhook'forrn with the front arm `portion formed vof a broad plate to closethe. spacebetween .the links whenfin extended position, also to provide its rear `arm of a narrower width to fit into the longitudinal guide channel in the guide linky and set substantially'iush with the rear face thereofto `complete the bearing wall of this guide link; also to fold the abutment fingers on the inturned lips of the guide link to extend between the front and rear arms ofthe slide link to prevent Y the resilient rear arm from being sprung inwardly to open' the hook except when in 90 extended position; and the following is a vdetailed description of the present'embodiment of my invention and showing Vone means by which these advantageous results may lbeac'coinplished: i e y A t 'lVith reference tothe drawings, l0 designates the guide vlink,the blank of which is formed from sheet stock and'subsequently foldedY to provide ajbroadgfrontface l1 for ornamentation kwith relativelyV narrowside v100 walls l2, the stock extending inwardly from these side walls as at 13 to form portions of the rear wall of this link and the rear edge portions of these walls being provided with an integral cross bar 16 to which the hook of' the next adjacent slide link may be readily connected. u i

We have also rovided aslide link 17 whichy is `formed in elongated c band-shape, one end being bent into hook form, the front plate 18 of this band being of a widthfto slide in the space 19 beneath the edges of the inturned lips 14 of the slide link, this plate being of a. width to substantially lit between the side walls of this guidel link; and one end of'this 'broader plate 18 being turned or bent into hook form as at20, the opposite flexible arm 21 of thisband-shaped slide link being substantiallynarrower than the broader arm 18 thereof vand is of a width to lill the space 22 in the guide link and is preferably set flush with the rear Walls 13 thereof for the purpose of completing this wall and providing a full bearing surface of the bracelet links on the arm of thev wearer. The forward end 23 of this arm 21 being arranged to extend beneath the edge 2i of the hook 20 to prevent it froin opening outwardly.

In assembling the parts this slide link is positioned in the guide link by sliding its broader plate 18 beneath the guide flanges 14 and causing the resilient arm 21 to close the space 22 in the guide link, then a spring s 25 is insertedinto the slide link with one kendabutting `against the bridge portion 2G thereof fand this spring is tlienicoinpressed and thetingers l5 are folded inwardly over the end of this spring to provide aforward abutment therefor so as to act uponthe slide link to press it towards closed position. After the link units have been so assembled, it is only necessary to extend the slide inember of the units suceesively, insert the hook portion 20 of one through the cross bai| 16 in the end of the next adjacent guide link 'thereby detachably'connecting the links into La series of any desired number. v

Our improved bracelet or chain is` very simple and practical in constructionand the unit parts may be readily assembled and the different units detachably Vconnected together by simply hooking one into the other and by which construction a bracelet or chain may be made of anyfdesired'length thereby readily adjusting the `working length thereof. j

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but we desire it to beunderstood that we reserve the privilegeof resorting to allthe ymechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

yin said ive claim:

1. A bracelet structure comprising a series of extendible link units, each having a guide link formed of sheet stock foldedr to provide a broad front plate with relatively narrow side walls having rear flanges with intiirned guiding edge lips forming a space between them, a band-shaped connector link slidable guide link formed in elongated hook shape with a closing tongue, one part of said band lying substantially flush with the rear llanges of said guide link completing the rear bearing wall thereof, inturned abutinents on said lips and al closing spring, aetiiig between said abutinents and the end of said connecting link to be enclosed by said inturned guiding edge lips of the guide lilik and the rear and front walls of the connecting links. 2. A bracelet structure comprising a series of extendible link units, each having a guide link formed vof sheet stock folded to provide a front wall, side walls and portions of a rear wall with their edges spaced apart and turned inwardly forming guiding lips, a band-shaped slide link having a broad plate extending beneath said lips and a narrow plate positioned to complete the rear wall ol' the guide link between said lips, laterally extending abutment fingers on said lips, a link closing spring acting between said abutment lingers and the fold of said band link and a member on the, adjacent end of the next guide link detacliably engaged by the hookof the slide lilik.

3. A bracelet structure comprising a series of extendible link units, cach having a guide link formed of sheet stock foldedto provide side walls and portions of a rear wall with their edges spaced apart and turned inwardly forming guidinglips, a band-shaped slide link having a broad plate extending beneath said lips' and a narrow plate positioned to complete the rear wall of the guide link be tween said lips, laterallyexte`ndi1ig abutnient vlingers on said lips, a' link closing spring acting between said abutment and the fold of said band link, and an integral cross bar on the adjacent end of the guide link detachably engaged by the hook of the slide link, said lingers on the guide link extending beneath the hook tongue to prevent a disengaging action of the hook except when the link parts are in extended position.

4, A bracelet structure comprising a series of extendible link units,each having a guide link formed of sheet stock folded to provide a front wall, side walls and portions of a rear wall with their edges spaced apart and turned inwardly vforming guiding lips, a

"band-shaped slide link having a broad plate extending beneath said lips and a narrow plate orarin positioned when in contracted position to complete the rear wall of the guide link between said lips, fingers on said IUU lips extending inwardly toward each other, a link closing spi-ing positioned between said lips and acting between said abutment fingers and the fold of said band link; and a cross bar on the. adjacent. end of the next guide link detaehably engaged by the hook of the slide link.

5. A bracelet structure comprising a series of extendible link units, each having a guide link foi-ined of sheet stock folded to provide a broad front plate with relatively narrow i side walls having rear flanges with inturned guiding edge lips forming a. space between in said guide link formed in elongated hook shapey with a closing tongue, inturned abut-y ments on said lips, and a closing spring, act

ing between said a-butnients and the end of said conneeting'link to 'be enclosed by `said inturned guiding edge lips of the giiide link and the rearA and front walls of the connecting links.

Intestimony whereof we affix our signatures.

rCARL AUGENSTEIN.

ROBERT VOGEL, 

